Going to talk at Fairhaven Runners

Steve asked me to talk to his customers about the local trails.  The talk will be at his store, Thursday, December 15 at 7:15 – 8:15 pm

Darrell, a Bellingham-native and trail enthusiast, will present a slide show on
the Whatcom County trails from a mapmaker’s perspective.  Four years ago,
Darrell began making maps and guides for runners, bikers, and skiers that could
be folded to fit in a pocket.  He will share stories of his favorite spots, best
seasons, and what it takes to create his recreation trail maps (RightMAPS)

Quick Map for the Anna Brulotte Memorial's Lake Padden Classic

Today, I made a map to help explain the route for the Lake Padden Trail Classic 13.1.  The 3 interconnecting loops made it a challenge to show.  I used colors outline the 3 major loops and arrows to show the direction (counter-clockwise or clockwise) one is suppose to run.  Maps like this are easy for me to create, having completed in some 400 races in my life I have lots of experience in what makes a good map.  With more time we could add a profile, mile markers, etc.

Using aMAP Lidar Maps for a Northwest Geological Society Field Trip

Kathy Troost and I have been working together to identify landforms from outburst floods in the South Puget Sound.  They floods were gigantic and occurred during the rapid recession of the last regional glaciation, Vashon Stade.

 Kathy invited me to co-lead a field trip she organized with Matthew van der Ahe for NWGS members.  We visited the CalPortland's Dupont gravel mine, and 6 other stops in Pierce County that overlooked the erosional and depositional features of these floods.  I created LiDAR images that we used during the trip.  Hugh Shipman wrote a nice blog that recapped the trip

http://gravelbeach.blogspot.com/2011/10/sequalitchew-delta.html.

With permission, I took pictures of these historical pictures hanging on the gravel mines office wall.  They are from now closed Stellacom Pit. 

Hugh keyed me into a historical archive at the northwest collections in the Tacoma Library.  It includes these and many other historic photos of the mining era.  http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?krequest=subjects+contains+Pioneer%20Sand%20Gravel%20Co.%20and%20Steilacoom%20

Thanks Kathy, Matthew and the NWGS members for fine day of learning and sharing.

Logging closes trail and provides view of Lost Lake

 High on the top of burnout hill, RightMAPS! Chuckanut/Blanchard Map, a private landower clearcut his rectangle of land.  The logging tookout the trails Overlander and Ender.  However the logging road can be follow to make a connection between South Lost Lake and Burnout Trails.  And the road has views to the north (Chuckanut Ridge, lost lake, raptors ridge, etc) and to the bay.

For the geologist, a small quarry opened, exposes some carbon-rich sections of the Chuckanut Sandstone.

Fine Rides on Bear Mtn, Methow Valley

Joe Brown showing me the new trail work near Loup Loup

 Sweet tread and great fall goundcover color.

 Family Ride: Ruth, Ryeli and I on piece of the Middle Beaver Creek Trail.  

 If you like these trails, AmazingMaps RightMAP!, Methow East Trails Map will show you where to park and provide an accurate topo map to help you follow the trail. See the side-bar for who sells them.